Channel 4 - Schedule changes from next week

Channel 4 have just announced schedule changes from next week...

15 to 1 is dropped from its usual 3:45 slot and Countdown moves to 3:15 are a couple of things to note - also a new series of Richard & Judy at 5pm...

Wonder what all the OAP's will think .... they'll be complaining that they're usually having their afternoon nap at 3:15 or out walking the dog on the moors!

Strange moving Countdown - what's on at 4pm then. In it's new slot Countdown will also be regularly dropped for racing, as well as cricket.

Moving Countdown to 3.15, are they mad, its been in the 4.30/4.15 slot since Day 1 hasn't it?

4:25pm on it's first day [first day of the station] and yes, 4:15 since, recently falling into 4o'clock on occasions. That's how I recall it anyway?

Schedule from Monday :

14:45
Fifteen to One
William G Stewart asks the questions in the fast-moving quiz.

15:15
Countdown
Richard Whiteley and Carol Vorderman host the words and numbers game. With Dictionary Corner guest Richard Digance.

16:00
A Place In The Sun
Series on homes abroad. Zilpah Hartley helps Paul Dennis and Lita Philips find a holiday home in the Creuse region of France for 20,000 pounds.

16:30
Home from Home
Series looking at swapping homes as a holiday idea. Fiona and Mark Holmes swap their Cornish seaside home for a large house on the east coast of America.

17:00
Richard and Judy
Judy Finnigan and Richard Madeley present their live entertainment show. With guest Elvis Costello who talks about his new album, North.

Not quite since day 1: Countdown Times

Can't understand that at all. 15 to 1 is supposed to be facing the axe with new quiz show Beat the Nation repeating it, and with The Simpsons coming to C4 next year, I think Richard and Judy may be moved to an earlier 4/4.30 slot to accomodate "youth" programmes at 5.30pm.

(ah - took me so long to write this post other people have already answered the earlier questions!)

And for once S4C~ have followed suit and moved their schedule accordingly -- instead of waiting a couple of years, having to time-shift Countdown a day later. Although Richard and Carol did do a special trail for the Welsh move when they eventually saw sense. The schedule is as above but kids programmes remain 4-5pm.

I think the new line-up is an improvement to be honest, but it does cut into the racing surely? And there probably is something in the *clashing with afternoon nap theory* too.

IIRC the plan was to air The Simpsons in a primetime slot at 8.30. If they showed it at 5.30 it would clash with Neighbours (which has a similar audience to The Simpsons).

But Countdown has prided itself on being a tea-time show for years. The blue rinsers won't be ready for their cup of tea and gypsy creams at 3.15pm, they'll have only washed up after lunch. It's a fundamental error they are making here.

I stand by my earlier speculation that Countdown is likely to end when Carol and Dick's contracts run out next year. This is surely the beginning of the end.